US envoy in Afghanistan no
'flowerpot' By Lailuma Sadid
KABUL - Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to Afghanistan,
gave an exclusive interview to Pajhwok News Agency.
He discussed his role in the reconstruction effort
and the United States' commitment to Afghanistan's future.
Pajhwok: How do you feel about
being Afghan and representing the US? What kind of
conflicts do you face with this duality and will you
stay here after your post is completed?
Khalilzad: I'm happy that after 35
years of being away from Afghanistan, I could come back
here and help the country toward progress and success. I
was born in Afghanistan, my father is buried here, my
mother lives here, and I studied here. I haven't decided
what to do after I finish this job. I don't see a
problem being Afghan and now a US ambassador. But some,
because of this, expect more from me. I feel the weight
of this on my shoulders and I try my best on both sides.
Pajhwok: What do you and President
[Hamid] Karzai talk about when you get together? Most
Afghans think that you're actually the president of
Afghanistan and he's a figurehead. What is your answer
to the Afghan people?
Khalilzad:
Mr Karzai is now the chosen president of Afghanistan. I
want to help the Afghan administration and if there's a
problem that I can help solve with the Afghan
government, its various ministries and organizations, we
will help. The goal is so that Afghanistan will not need
our help, but while there is a need, we will be there.
Pajhwok: What kind of help have
you provided? For example, it has been said that there
has been a lot of meddling and you have rejected this
idea. But in very sensitive moments, you have met with
different leaders, such as [Mohammad] Mohaqiq, [Abdul
Rashid] Dostum, Ismail Khan, and details of those
meetings have not been public. This is a good
opportunity for us to ask: what was said in those
meetings?
Khalilzad : About
the discussions you mentioned, it depended on the time,
and sometimes we talked about security and disarmament
and reconstruction and other issues that were important
to the success of Afghanistan. But all the talks we've
had were with the consultation of the Afghan government.
I didn't come here to be a flowerpot. Our goal is to make
sure problems are solved and I will not sit still if I
see a problem. If that means that I personally or as a
representative of the US - we will do what is necessary.
Pajhwok: The issue is the
coalition government that Karzai does not want to have
again. That could cause security problems if the militia
commanders are not given a role in the new government.
How much help can the US offer to maintain security?
Khalilzad: We haven't discussed
this yet. I went away for a few weeks. Karzai says he
does not want to have a coalition, and the future
government is up to them. He needs to come through with
this promise and that doesn't mean that only one
ethnicity will be a part of that government. There's a
need for a government that has national participation,
including men and women, a government that will get the
job done and one that has little corruption. The
problems of the Taliban, warlordism, narcotics and
economics are important but the type of government and
the way it works is also important.
Pajhwok: How much can the United
States government offer in military help if the militia
commanders are ousted?
Khalilzad:
The time of militia commanders is passing, warlordism is
dying out, and the spinal cord of warlordism is being
broken down. A successful Afghanistan is in need of one
national army, law, government and economy. Some of the
warlords are paying attention to these structures, in
order to take part in the reform process. This work is
not done yet; it will take time, but the future is
bright. There were questions that the United States was
supporting warlordism, but we've made it clear in the
last year what politics we stand for. There shouldn't be
any questions. Afghanistan is a region of strategic and
military importance for the US and so is its success.
Pajhwok: The US has removed some
[North] American intelligence forces from Herat,
Kandahar and Mazar and taken out surveillance planes and
sent them to Iraq. Has the attention of the US people
shifted toward Iraq and away from Afghanistan, or is
there no need in Afghanistan for these forces?
Khalilzad: I don't know what you
mean by these issues you've mentioned. Generally saying
that attention is more toward Iraq, and less toward
Afghanistan, is wrong. Before getting involved in Iraq,
the US was helping Afghanistan, and is still doing so
afterwards. I was personally involved in speeding up the
process and getting US$1.4 million added to the original
budget. The number of soldiers has increased compared to
the first couple of years of US involvement here. If it
is the reconstruction activities concerning security and
economics, and even political issues, US activities have
increased. The United States can move forward in both
countries, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pajhwok: What about the US report
that was supposed to be published months ago on
prisoners under United States control in Afghanistan?
When is it actually being published? Human Rights Watch
has commented on this issue.
Khalilzad: It's complete, but it
has to be broadcast. It has to be. I will talk to those
responsible in the military to find out.
